San Diego County courtrooms video bombed' with porn and hate imagery

On Tuesday, a significant disruption unfolded in San Diego County Superior Court when an individual or group infiltrated the court's virtual appearance portal, sharing explicit pornography and hate imagery. This incident affected ten courtrooms across five courthouses, including locations in downtown San Diego and Chula Vista. Court officials responded promptly, disabling the background effect feature on Microsoft Teams and blocking remote appearances for several hours to regain control. Fortunately, no hearings were postponed, showcasing the court's resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. In response to this incident, the court has implemented stricter settings on MS Teams, requiring approval from a court clerk for camera use.

This disruption underscores the vulnerabilities of virtual court systems, a concern that has been echoed in other jurisdictions across the country. Similar “video bombing” incidents have been reported in various locations, including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dover, Delaware, since the rise of remote technology in 2020. As virtual hearings are set to continue through 2027, maintaining security and decorum in online court proceedings remains a pressing issue.